Today, we are prepared to subject is about tomb sweeping
S: Just as we all known ,we just have a Qingming festival,as one of the 24 segments of the Chinese calendar. It normally falls on the 4th or 5th of April, between spring plowing and summer weeding,Wen enjoyed the festival,in the brilliant spring,we whether know the origin of it ?
J: ye I know about it ,The festival originated from Hanshi Day ,a memorial day for Jie Zitui
S: Do you know there is a moving story about the festival?
Z：Once, during Wen's 19 years of exile, they had no food and Jie prepared some meat soup for Wen. Wen enjoyed it a lot and wondered where Jie had obtained the soup. It turned out Jie had cut a piece of meat from his own thigh to make the soup. Wen was so moved he promised to reward him one day. However, Jie was not the type of person who sought rewards. Instead, he just wanted to help Wen to return to Jin to become king. Once Wen became duke, Jie resigned and stayed away from him
J: Duke Wen rewarded the people who helped him in the decades, but for some reason he forgot to reward Jie, who by then had moved into the forest with his mother. Duke Wen went to the forest, but could not find Jie. Heeding suggestions from his officials, Duke Wen ordered men to set the forest on fire to force out Jie. However, Jie died in the fire. Feeling remorseful, Duke Wen ordered three days without fire to honor Jie's memory. The county where Jie died is still called Jiexiu
S: your speaking are perfect ,Qingming Festival is a time of many different activities, among which the main ones are tomb sweeping, taking a spring outing, flying kites. Some other lost customs like wearing willow branches on the head and riding on swings have added infinite joy in past days.
J: On this day, people visit their family graves to remove any underbrush that has grown. They would uproot weeds near the gravesites, wipe the tombstones and decorate the tombstones with fresh flowers. And then they will set out offerings of food and paper money.
Z: The major custom in Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping. According to folk religion, the spirits of deceased ancestors still live underground and look after the family; the tombs are said to be their houses; thus it is very important to keep the tombs clean.
J: On this day, people visit their family graves to remove any underbrush that has grown. They would uproot weeds near the gravesites, wipe the tombstones and decorate the tombstones with fresh flowers. And then they will set out offerings of food and paper money.
S: paper money? Ye This year's offering to their deceased ancestors is also different from the past. It is all high-tech products made from paper, including iPhone ,Apple iPad, and a Wi-Fi router .
Z: he,he I wish they the ability of using these high-tech products,Not only is it a day for commemorating the dead, is it also a festival for people to enjoy
themselves. During March, everything in nature takes on a new look, as trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly. It is a fine time to go out and to appreciate the beautiful scenes of nature during the festival.
J: This custom can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty and followed by each dynasty later till today. So visitors can be seen everywhere during the month of the festival. The more important is Spring outings not only add joy to our life but also promote a healthy body and mind.
S: Planting Willow Trees is also one of the important activities, in tomb-sweeping day ,although modern people rarely do it .Because Jie Zitui died embracing a willow tree, the willow is believed to have miraculous powers against evil. During the Qingming Festival, willow branches are hung on door fronts and used to sweep the tombs.When I was a kid,my grandmother make willow branches ring and wear it on my head .The festival is a combination of sadness and happiness, perhaps bittersweet.